Yachts

This little known band produced some killer power pop during the early 80s and should have been huuuuuge stars - but sadly they weren't and their two LP's remain a secret enjoyed by the knowledgeable few.

Formed by Henry Priestman and Martin Dempsey in June 1977, Yachts sported short-sleeved pastel shirts, perma-press trousers, deck shoes and haircuts only a mother could love.

Behind the geeky image lay a wry wit, spotted by Elvis Costello when the band supported him at Liverpool club, Eric's in July 1977. A contract with Stiff followed, and the band released pop gem Suffice To Say before defecting with Costello to Radar Records where they recorded two albums.

The sound on their self-titled debut album was reminiscent of Squeeze (same cheesy keyboard sound - is it a Farfisa?) with very catchy tunes and clever funny lyrics - as in Mantovani's Hits which imagines a world where Elvis (Presley) records had not been hits but Mantovani's had, or Box 202 where the guys girlfriend is killed in a plane crash so he puts out a classified ad to look for a replacement. The Yacht's second LP, Without Radar, was released in 1980 and contained classic songs such as Life Saving is Easy and March of the Moderates.

Sadly (along with The Sinceros), The Yachts will probably always remain one of the great underrated bands of pop history. The band later re-assembled as It's Immaterial before Priestman joined The Christians.